MGIMO Rector Meets with Spanish Ambassador

February 26th, MGIMO welcomed the Spanish Ambassador to Russia and former Deputy Foreign Minister Ignacio Ibáñez. The guest met with the Rector Anatoly Torkunov and gave a talk in Spanish to students of the University.

During the meeting, the Rector spoke about MGIMO’s long running tradition of teaching Spanish and its interaction with Spanish universities. Indeed the University has signed cooperation agreements with several leading Spanish universities including Complutense University, the University of Castilla-La Mancha, the University of Valencia, the University of Barcelona, the University of Seville and Marbella International University Center.

MGIMO operates exchange programs of students and faculty members with its partners. The University has also implemented a double master’s degree program with the University of Barcelona devoted to the multilateral regulation of the global trading system. MGIMO uses the International University Center in Marbella as a platform to implement its own bachelor’s and master’s programs in International Relations and International Business, as well as to hold winter schools.

Over the last decade, the Spanish bank Santander has supported a variety of educational initiatives, including academic mobility projects, the publication of the «Ibero-American Notebooks», a student theater and lecturer training programs.

The Ambassador expressed his readiness to support the expansion of cooperation between MGIMO and Spanish universities, and suggested the University develop its relations with the Madrid Society for International Studies and the Russian and Spanish Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

After the interview, Ignacio Ibáñez delivered a lecture to students of the University, devoted to the history of bilateral relations between Spain and Russia. After the talk, students put to the guest questions on a myriad of subjects including Spain’s position regarding the situation in the Balkans and the Catalan issue.